Laundry ironer



C. J. WEST LAUNDRY IRONER Aug'. 15, 1939.

Filed Nov. 28, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. J. wEsT 2,169,572

I LAUNDRY IRoNER Filed Nov. 28, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 15, '1939,

l NVEN TOR. laude Tf 114955 BYl AT RNEY.

Aug. 15, 1939.

C. J. WEST LAUNDRY IRONER Filed NOV. 28, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. J. WEST LAUNDRY IRONER Aug. 1s,l 1939.

7 `sheets-sheet 4 Filed Nov. 28, 1936 NVENTR.

A TTORNE Y.

` Aug. 15,'1939. c. J. wEsT LAUNDRY IRoNER Filed Nov. 28, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 /lVl/f'lVfK Claude Jil/eff ,ar

ATTORNEY' C. J. WEST LAUNDRY IRONER Aug. l5, 1939.

'7 men-sheet 6 Filed Nov. 28, 1936 C. J. WEST LAUNDRY `IRONER Ang. 15, 1939.

Filed Nov. 28, 1956 7 Sheets-Shea?I 7 N k u X INVENTolIz. Clau/de T M51; BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 j UNITED STS ATT OFFICE LAUNDRY momia Claude J. West, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Theodore Halkias 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to a laundry iron.- er and it relates more particularly to laundry ironers for commercial laundres.

One of the objects of the present invention is f to obtain greater compactness as well as greater eihciency in laundering machines or laundry ironers of the mangle type, and also to improve the quality of the resultant product.

Other objects of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists of a laundry ironer of the mangle type comprising a single roll and a pair of curved press platens -pivoted beneath the roll and yieldably pressedfagainst the same from opposite sides, and a pair of oppositely disposed feedein and discharge conveyors above the respective steam chests and arranged to feed the ..20 work to and to receive the work from a relatively small uppermost uncovered Zone of the roll.

The present invention further consists of other novel features which appear more fully from the following detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is sho-wn in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it .V30 is to be' understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents-a front elevational View of `the apparatus embodying my invention, broken away in parts to show portions of the interior thereof in section; said View being taken while viewing the feed-in end of the machine.

Figure 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a Figure 2.

Figure 4 represents an end elevational view indicating generally the right-hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a similar left-hand end ele# vational view partly broken away to disclose the interior. y

- Figure 5a represents a section on line 5a-5a V.0f Fig. 5.

Figure drepresentsva fragmentary top plan section lon line 3-3 of View of one of the auxili-ary feed drives or conveyer drives.

Figure '7 represents a fragmentary section on line 'l-'I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary section on line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 represents a perspective view of one of the termin-al bearing brackets which give support to the stripper and auxiliary guide belts.

Figure 10 represents a perspective View of one of the stripper figures.

Figure 11 represents an end elevational View similar to that shown in Figure 7, illustrating a modified embodiment of the present invention with respect to the" auxiliary guide belt.

The machine of the present invention includes a main roll designated generally by the numeral I4 having on opposite sides thereof press platens or steam chests designated generally by the numerals I5 and I6 pivoted at Il and I8 respectively, beneath the main roll I4, and feed-in conveyer belt means designated generally by the numeral I9 and delivery conveyer belt means designated generally by the numeral 2l] and auxiliary guide and stripper means 2| intermediate the conveyer means I9 and 20.

The main roll I4, as well as the platens or chests I5 and I6 are preferably of a sectional construction of the general type disclosed in Patent No, 2,057,988, issued October 20th, 1936, and are formed of a successive series of sections, as for instance, I3-a, Iii-b, IG-c, l-d and IG-e, depending upon the length of the machine desired or depending on the width capacity desired in the machine. The individual sections are suitably secured to each other and in alignment with each other b-y bolts or other suitable fastening means 22 and to the outermost sections (I G--a and Iii-e, for instance) the combined terminal trunnion and closure plates 23 and 24 are secured by suitable bolts 25. The trunnions 26 and 2l, carried by the plates 23 and 24, respectively, are suitably journalled in roller bearings 23 and 23 and housed Within suitable journal boxes or bearing housings 30 and 3l, respectively, which are carried by transverse yokes 32 and 33 at the opposite ends of the machine. The bearing yokes 32 and 33 are preferably adjustably mounted on opposite terminal pedestals 34 and 35, respectively, whereby the axis of rotation of the main roll I4, may be adjusted, within a suitable range, both vertically as well as horizontally and with the adjustment being independent at the two trunnions.

To this end the opposite ends of the yokes 32 v and 33 are provided with more or less suitably elongated vertical openings, into which supporting sleeves 36 pass; said sleeves 36 having the lower nut-like flanges 31 of enlarged diameter on Which the yokes rest, and the sleeves being internally threaded and being threadedly carried by the screw-posts 38. By turning the nutlike flange 31 of the supporting sleeves 36, the yokes may be raised and lowered upon the screwposts 38. Lock-nuts 38 are provided on the screwposts directly above the yokes for locking and more rmly clamping the yokes in the desired position after the height has been adjusted by the turning of the sleeves 36.

For horizontal adjustment, adjusting screws or set screws 40 are provided in each end of the yoke, and bearing against the sleeves 36 for locking the yoke in any desired lateral adjustment.

To the upper ends of the screw posts 38, the brackets 4| and 42 are secured at the opposite ends of the machine by lower supporting nuts 43 and upper lock nuts 44 which bear against the lower and upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges 45 of said brackets.

The press-platens or chests I and I6 are also sectionally formed as indicated particularly in Figure 1 with the successive sections tied together by suitable tie bolts 41.

Each section is provided at one of its ends with an outwardly extending inlet lug or boss 48 and corresponding outlet lug or boss 49 containing suitable ports entering the interior steam space of the section. These successive inlet and outlet ports are then connected with each other through suitable tubing which may include sylphon tubes 50, so as to prevent strain either on the pipe connections or upon the sections with variations in temperature. As indicated in Figure 1, this successive manifolding between successive ports forms, in effect, a single manifold at the top and a single manifold at the bottom of each of the sections, steam-chests or platens.

It will be observed that each section includes terminal webs or flanges 5I and 52; the webs 5| carrying the inletand outlet port members and the webs 52 being perforated in registration with the inlet and outlet port members of the next adjacent section, so that the manifold fittings pass freely through the webs 52 in order to reach and to be connected in sealed relation to the inlet or outlet port member carried by the next adjacent web 5| In the suitably thickened inner walls of the press platens or steam chests I5 and I6, horizontal vacuum or suction manifold openings 53 are provided which communicate with corresponding rows of suitably spaced suction recesses 54 in the curved, operative contact surfaces 55 of the platens, whereby steam or vapor produced in the work due to the heat, may ind ready escape through these recesses and vacuum manifolds. In this respect, the steam chests or press platens are similar in construction to that disclosed in the patent above referred to.

The steam chests I5 and I6 are provided with a series of alternately staggered hinge or pivot projections 56 and 51, which cross each other and through which the steam chests are pivotally mounted upon the pivot rods or the pivot pins I1 and I8, respectively. The pivot pins or rods I1 and I8, respectively, are in turn carried by the stationary brackets or pedestals 58 and 59, respectively.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the pivot flanges 56 and 51 cross each other, and extend substantially beyond the curved operativesurfaces of the respective steam chests which they support, both in an outward radial direction as well as in a circumferential direction, so that a tilting of the steam chest away from the roll I4 about the supporting pivot, will cause the entire curved operative surface of the steam chest to recede from the roll. Thus, it will be observed that each of the pivots I1 and I8 is at a substantially greater radial distance from the axis of the roll I4 and from the axis of the corresponding curved operative surfaces of the steam chests than said operative stufaces, and is removed a substanial extent in a circumferential direction from the end of the curved operative surface of the steam chest.

The steam chestsy I5 and I6 are yieldably pressed against the roll I4 by means of a series of helical compression springs 60, the lower ends of which rest in the trough-like U-iron beam 6I and the upper ends of which bear against the lower horizontal webs 62 of the steam chests. Preferably two springs 60 are provided beneath each section so as more or less evenly to distribute the sustaining force.

In order to permit of an adjustment of the pressure for varying kinds of work and also to permit the complete retraction of the steam chests, as for instance, when the machine is not in operation, the spring-carrying U-beam 6| is adjustably supported upon a series of screw posts 63, which are threaded through suitable nut-like sleeve 64 extending through the horizontal web of the U-channel 6I at suitable points, and locked therein by the lock nuts 65. The screw posts 63 are provided with a bottom trunnion portion 66 which extends into the inner portion of the ball-thrust bearings or roller thrust bearings indicated at 61, and the thrust flange 68, which rests upon said thrust bearing 61, thereby to give the screw post 63 a bottom journal both for radial support as well as for vertical thrust support. The bearing 61 may be suitably housed in any suitable bearing housing 69 carried in the base of the machine. By turning the screw post 63 in either direction, the screw post is caused to thread into or out of the nut-like sleeve 64 to a greater or lesser extent and thus raise and lower the U-beam 6|.

The central post 63 indicated in Figure lis provided also with a Spanner disc 1 I, into the holes of which a Spanner wrench or rod may be inserted, whereby it may be turned more readily.

The successive screw posts 63 are then permanently re-connected by sprocket wheels 12 and 13 and 14 and 15, and intermediate sprocket chains 16 and 11, whereby all the screw posts can be caused to revolve in unison with each other, so that a uniform adjustment isI maintained throughout the length of the steam chest.

To the trunnions 26 and 21 of the roll I4, hubs 18 and 19 are suitably keyed; said hubs in turn carrying similar gears 80 and 8| for driving the feed-in and delivery conveyers and also the auxiliary guides. On one of the trunnions, as, for instance, on the trunnion 21, the hub 19 is also provided with the sprocket wheel 82 through which the entire machine may be driven from any suitable source of power by the sprocket chain 83 driven from the sprocket pinion 84. The sprocket pinion 84 may be directly from a motor or it may be from a reducing gear mechanism associated with the motor. Neither the motor nor the reducing gear mechanism is here shown in detail and they may be'of any conventional construction; the only element indicated being the shaft which carries the sprocket pinion 84 and the bearing 86 in which said shaft is journalled.

The brackets 4I and 42 carried upon the screwposts 38 at opposite ends of the machine, support between them a pair of horizontal parallel rods 81 and 88, as indicated particularly in Figures 3 and 6 which rods Serve to carry similar drive mechanisms at opposite ends of the machine for driving both the feed-in as well as the delivery belts, and also to drive the auxiliary drive belts.

Thus, at each end of the machine, similar brackets 89 are pendantly supported by means of the hangers which are carried on said rods 81 and 88, said brackets having journalled therein a central shaft 9| which carries a driven pinion 92 at its outer end, in mesh with the respective driving gears 80 and 8| and also carries a driving sprocket gear 93 over which a sprocket chain 94 travels; said sprocket chain 94 travelling over a pair of driven sprocket wheels and 96, respectively, also journalled on said brackets 89, thereby providing three similarly rotating shafts 9| and 91 and 98, respectively. From each of these shafts 9|, 91 and 98, similar flexible shaft connections 99, |00 and IIII extend so as to provide flexible driving connections to the feed-in belts, the delivery belts and the auxiliary guide belts.

The feed-in belts and the delivery belts |02 and |03, respectively, are carried by similar driven rolls |64 and |05, and idle rolls |06 and |01. The driven rolls |04 and |05 carried bythe shafts |08 and |09, respectively, derive their driving power from the flexible shafts |00 and IOI, respectively, as indicated in Figure 6, and are journalled in vertical bearing slots IIO, in a series of similar separated and supporting webs III, so that the rolls |04 and |05, together with their respective shafts |08 and |09 may adjust themselves vertically for varying thicknesses of work.

The somewhat lower idle rolls |06 and |01 are carried by suitable idle pins or idle shafts |I2 and II3. These idle pins or shafts II2 and II3 may be loosely journalled in the more or less horizontally, though downwardly inclined, slots I I4 provided in the separated and supporting flanges III; the lower idle rolls |06 and |01 being made sufficiently heavy so that they will adequately tension the belts |02 and |03 by their own Weight. If desired, however, the belts |02 and |03 may be otherwise tensioned as, for instance, by carrying the pins II2 and II 3 in suitable screw-adjusted and screw-locked brackets. Between the upper and lower portions of the belts |02 and |03 wooden supporting blocks I I5 and I I6 may be provided to give support to the upper portions of the belts so that they will not unduly sag when pressure is applied to them from above, as for instance that incident to the application of the work on the belt |02 and the removal of the work from the belt |03. These woodenk blocks ||5 and II6 may be carried on suitable tie rods I I1, extending therethrough and also extending through the separated and supporting webs or anges I I I.

From the rods 81 and 88, a series of brackets I I8 are suspended, as indicated at I I9, in Figures 6, 7 and 9, said brackets including aligned pivot apertures |20, I2I, |22 and |23 through which the idle pivot rods |24, |25, |26 and |21 extend, and also includes a vertical bearing slot |28 in which the shaft |29 is loosely journalled in such a way that it may ride up and down and thus adjust itself vertically.

The shaft |29 carries a' series of driving rolls |30, which serve not only to drive the belt |3| but also serve as a take-'up roll by resting on the belt and being supported by a free span of the belt. The belt |3| extends over idle rolls |32, |33, |34 and |35, carried by the pivot pins or shafts |24, |25, |28 and |21, respectively. The centers of the pins |24, |25, |28 and |21 are so located on the brackets II8 that the belt spans intermediate the additional rolls |34 and |32 on one hand, and intermediate the additional rolls |35 and |33 on the other hand, will bear against the belts |02 and |03, respectively, as they pass over the driving rolls |04 and |05, respectively, as indicated in Figures 2, 6 and 7.

In this way, the work entering on the top of the belt |02 is guided around on the belt |02 until it reaches the main roll II4 and is then guided Y by the main roll I I4 in between said roll and the operative surface of the steam chest I5. In this way also the work leaving the steam chest I6 is guided around the belt |03 so that it may be carried away by the upper surface of the belt |03.

In order to insure that the nished work will properly separate from the roll I4 and be engaged by the belts |03 and |3| (where these belts contact with each other), stripper ngers |36 are also provided pivotally supported upon the rods |26 at the pivot holes |31, which ngers may be further provided with arcuate slots |38 (centered about the holes |31), through which slots |38 the pivot rods |21 extend, so as to limit the downward deflection of the fingers |36.

In Figure l1 a modified form of construction is shown in relation to the auxiliary guiding belt whereby the entire guiding belt mechanism including the stripper ngers may be tilted upwardly into an inoperative position as shown in Figure 1l. In this modied form of construction the rods 81 and 88 are not supported directly on the brackets 4I and 42, but are instead carried by the brackets II8, and the brackets II8 are in turn provided with a further pivot member |40 pivotally supported on the pivot rod I4I. The pivot rod I4I is in turn carried by similar pivot brackets |42, carried by the brackets 4| and 42. In this way by tilting the entire mechanism upward the pinions 92 are raised out of mesh in relation with the gears 80 and 8|.

The roll I4 is preferably covered with one or more layers of suitable fabric covering |43 which are tightly wrapped around the roll; these fabric coverings being suitably woven and of suitable surface finish.

'I'he steam inlet manifolds 50 are connected through a suitable pipe I 44 to a suitable source of steam supply, while exhaust manifolds are similarly connected through a pipe |45 either to a discharge or to a steam return, depending on whether the waste steam or condensate is to be re-used.

Likewise, the suction manifold passageways are connected through suitable flexible conduits |46 to a vacuum manifold |41 which in turn may be connected to a suitable vacuum pump (not shown) of any desired construction (either a mechanical type vacuum pump or a Venturi vacuum pump). However, it should be noted that as the steam generated in the laundry passing between the rolls itself produces some pressure, it is at times possible to operate the machine with but very little vacuum, because the steam issuing from the` laundry tends to escape through the vacuum passageways with comparatively little actual suction exerted on such passageways.

The outer surfaces of the steam chest are preferably insulated by a suitable body of insulating material |48 which is retained in place by a covering plate |49, secured to the steam chest.

Likewise, the driving mechanisms may be enclosed in suitable metallic shields or housings |50 and |5l, with suitable terminal plates |52 which may be removably attached by screws 53 for more ready access to the adjustments of the main bearings and the other driving mechanisms.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

i. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens arranged yieldably to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, and said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll, thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the work to said exposed portion of the roll, and a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same.

2. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens adapted to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll, thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the work to said exposed portion of the roll, yieldable means for accommodating work of varying thickness between said feed-in belt and said roll, said yieldable means being disposed near the discharge end of said feed-in belt, and a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same.

3. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens arranged yieldably to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll, thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the Work to said exposed portion of the roll, a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same, and a series of stripping fingers frictionally engaging the periphery of said main roll at the delivery end thereof, said fingers being constructed and arranged to strip the work from the roll and guide it into cooperative engagement with said delivery belt.

4. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens adapted to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll, thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the work to said exposed portion of the roll, yieldable means for accommodating Work of varying thickness between said feed-in belt and said roll, said yieldable means being disposed near the discharge end of said feed-in belt, a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same, and a series of stripping fingers frictionally engaging the periphery of said main roll at the delivery end thereof and constructed and. arranged to strip the work from the roll and guide it into cooperative engagement with the delivery belt.

5. In a laundry ironing machine, a driven endless feeder belt arranged to discharge work into the intake of said ironing machine, a. driven endless delivery belt arranged to receive the ironed work from said ironing machine, an intermediate auxiliary belt disposed between said feeder belt and said delivery belt, said intermediate auxiliary belt being constructed and arranged substantially to contact said feeder belt near the discharge end thereof and also substantially to Contact said delivery belt near the receiving end thereof, whereby said contacting belts may positively grip and. feed work into and positively grip and deliver Work from said ironing machine, and yieldable means for tensioning said auxiliary belt whereby work of varying thickness may be accommodated.

6. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens arranged yieldably to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, a driven endless feeder belt arranged to discharge work into the intake of said ironing machine, a driven endless delivery belt arranged to receive the ironed work from said ironing machine and an intermediate auxiliary belt disposed between said feeder belt and said delivery belt, said intermediate auxiliary belt being constructed and arranged substantially to contact said feeder belt near the discharge end thereof and also substantially to contact said delivery belt near the receiving end thereof, whereby said contacting belts may positively grip and feed work into, and positively grip and deliver work from said ironing machine, and yieldable means for tensioning said auxiliary belt whereby work of varying thickness may be accommodated.

7. A laundry ironing machine comprising a singie main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens arranged yieldably to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, a driven endless feeder belt arranged to discharge work into the intake of said ironing machine, a driven endless delivery belt arranged to receive the ironed work from said ironing machine and an intermediate auxiliary belt disposed between said feeder belt and said delivery belt, said intermediate auxiliary belt being constructed and arranged substantially to contact said feeder belt near the discharge end thereof and also substantially to contact said delivery belt near the receiving end thereof, whereby said contacting belts may positively grip and feed work into, and positively grip and deliver work from said ironing machine, yieldable means for tensioning said auxiliary belt whereby work of varying thickness may be accommodated, and a series of stripping fingers rictionally engaging the periphery of said main roll at the delivery end thereof, said fingers being constructed and arranged to strip the work from the roll and guide it into cooperative engagement between said auxiliary belt andvsaid delivery belt.

8. In a laundry ironing machine, a driven endless feeder belt arranged to discharge work into the intake of said ironing machine, a driven endless delivery belt arranged to receive the ironed work from said ironing machine and an intermediate auxiliary belt disposed between said feeder belt and said delivery belt, said intermediate auxiliary belt being constructed and arranged substantially to contact said feeder belt near the discharge end thereof, and also substantially to contact said delivery belt near the receiving end thereof, whereby said contacting belts may positively grip and feed work into and positively grip and deliver work from said ironing machine, said intermediate auxiliary belt being supported on rolls journalled at each of their respective ends in pivotally supported brackets, said brackets being pivotally swingable away from said machine,

whereby said auxiliary belt may be swung away from and out of cooperative engagement with said feeder belt and said delivery belt to provide access to the interior of said laundry ironing machine between said feeder belt and said delivery belt.

9. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens adapted to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major part of the periphery of said roll, and said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the work to said exposed portion of the roll, a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same, and yieldable means arranged to permit work of varying thickness to be passed operatively between said roll and said delivery belt, said yieldable means being disposed near the receiving end of said delivery belt.

l0. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens' adapted to bear against said roll, said press platens being disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens being spaced from each other at the top of the roll, thereby to leave a portion of the roll exposed at the top, a feed-in belt above one of said press platens arranged to feed the work to said exposed portion of the roll, a delivery belt above the other of said press platens arranged to receive the work from said exposed portion of the roll and to deliver the same, yieldable means arranged to permit work of varying thickness to be passed operatively between said roll and said delivery belt, said yieldable means being disposed near the receiving end of said delivery belt, and a series of stripping ngers frictionally engaging the periphery of said main roll at the delivery end thereof and constructed and arranged to strip the work from the ro-ll and guide it into cooperative engagement with the delivery belt.

1l. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens disposed at opposite sides of said roll and having the concave surfaces: thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens meeting beneath said roll and each of said press platens being pivotally supported in proximity to the adjacent portions thereof, the outer lower extremities of each of said press platens being vertically supported by yieldable spring cushioned means whereby work of varying thickness may be ironed between said main roll and each of said pivotally supported spring-cushioned press platens.

l2. A laundry ironing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platens disposed at oppositeV sides of said roll and having thek concave surfaces thereof in operative juxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens meeting beneath said roll and each of said press platens being pivotally supported in proximity to the adjacent portions thereof, the outer lower extremities of each of said press platens being supported by vertically adjustable supporting means, whereby the ironing pressures between said press platens and said main roll may be adjusted at will.

13. A laundry iron-ing machine comprising a single main roll, a pair of generally concavely surfaced press platensdisposed at opposite sides o-f said roll and having the concave surfaces thereof in operative yjuxtaposition to a generally uninterrupted major portion of the periphery of said roll, said press platens meeting beneath said roll and each of said press platens being pivotally supported in proximity to the adjacent portions thereof, the outer lower extremities of each of said press platens being supported by vertically adjustable supporting means, whereby the ironing pressures between said press platens and said main roll may be adjusted at will, and yieldable spring-cushioned means interposed between said vertically adjustable supporting means and said press platens whereby work of varying thickness may be ironed between said main roll and each of said pivotally supported spring-cushioned press platens.

CLAUDE J. WEST. 

